Method and apparatus for milling peanut butter

ABSTRACT

An automatic vending machine for producing fresh peanut butter from deshelled peanuts is provided which upon insertion of a coin enables the user to open a door, insert a cup, close the door and thereby cause automatic feeding of peanuts and milling of a predetermined amount of peanut butter which, when delivered into the cup, shuts off the mill and allows the user to open the door and remove the cup.

United States Patent Rosenberg 51 Feb. 22, 1972 [54l METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 1 MILLING PEANUT BUTTER [72] inventor: Saul R. Rosenberg, 2220 Bagley Ave., Los

Angeles, Calif. 90034 [22] Filed: July 31, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 59,947

' 52 us. c1 ..141/1,141/s3 51] int. c1. ..B65b 1/04, B65b 3/04v [58] 1 16111 ofSearch ..141/1, 11, 67,69, s2, 83,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,165,127 l/l965 Rosenberg ..l41/82 3,182,693 5/1965 Sundberg ..l4l/268 6 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, .Ir. AttorneyWynne and Finken [57] ABSTRACT An automatic vending machine for producing fresh peanut butter from deshelled peanuts is provided which upon insertion of a coin enables the user to open a door, insert a cup, close the door and thereby cause automatic feeding of peanuts and milling of a predetermined amount of peanut butter which, when delivered into the cup, shuts off the mill and allows the user to open the door and remove the cup.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEOFEB22 m2 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG I FIG. 4

' INVENTQR smL R. nosisueme ATTORNEYS PATENTEIJFEB22 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 FIG 8 com DEVICE xojm ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MILLING PEANUT BUTTER This invention provides an automatic dispensing machine for peanut butter with a minimum holdup of ground material and which may be operated by the purchaser without supervision. Interlocks are provided which prevent the user from misusing the unit.

DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view of the machine with the front panel removed for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a top view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view looking toward the inside of the front panel which was removed from FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the mill with parts broken away;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the mill with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the mill with parts broken away;

FIG. 8 is a wire diagram of the panel board; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic showing of the sequential operation.

A method and apparatus are provided for preparing and dispensing fresh peanut butter, suitable microswitehes, relays, solenoids, etc., being employed, wherein:

1. coin insertion by a consumer into coin meter unlocks a door 16 and actuates a counter 17, whereupon 2. cup placement on a scale 18, through the predetermined weight of the cup 19, closes a suitable switch in a motor circuit, whereupon 3. closing the door 16 reactivates the door latch 20 and locks the door and also completes the circuit to the motor 21 and opens a valve 22 on the butter mill 23, whereupon 4. peanuts pass by gravity from hopper 24 into the butter mill 23 where they are ground, the resultant peanut butter being forced through a slot 25 in valve 22 into cup 19, whereupen 5. a predetermined weight of peanut butter in the cup tilts the scale 18 and through suitable switches stops the motor 21, rotates the valve 22, and unlatches the door 16, whereupon 6. the consumer removes the now-full cup; the door upon closing results in the door being locked closed by the latch 20 until deposit of another coin.

FIG. I shows the vending machine with its front panel removed. Spring delivery dispensers for cups l9 and lids 31 are provided. A hopper 24 with a tapered bottom for delivery of deshelled peanuts to a mill 23 is provided, the arrangement of these parts being shown also in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The mill 23 specifically shown in FIGS. 5-7 includes an auger section 32 which initially reduces the peanuts and a milling section 33 wherein two plates are rotated and receive and finally reduce or mill the peanut material to a fine creamy substance which passes through a port 34 and ported rotating rod valve 22 into the cup. Means (not shown) are provided for rotating the rod valve to align its port or slot 25 with the port 34 when the mill is operating. Slot 25 is about the size of a dime-receiving slot.

The mill 23 is driven by a chain 35 from motor 21 (FIG. 3).

The front panel (FIG, 4) has a spring 36 which biases the door 16 to a closed position and a series of switches and a solenoid for actuation by the door 16 or the coin mechanism 15. The cup is placed on the scale 18 which is pivoted at its central portion on a mount 37. The scale includes a weight 38 for precisely establishing a predetermined amount of peanut butter dispensed per cycle of the apparatus.

Various electrical components are mounted in the lower portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 8 shows a suitable electrical system. FIG. 9 is coordinated with FIG. 8 to facilitate understanding of the sequence of operation.

lclaim:

l. A method for making peanut butter from deshelled peanuts comprising the steps of:

opening a locked door,

placin a cup on a scale, recor mg this placement,

closing said door,

locking said door,

recording the closure of said door,

responding to the recording steps to energize a peanut milling unit,

directing the flow of resultant peanut butter into the cup,

and

responding to a predetermined weight of peanut butter to stop the milling step and unlock the door.

2. Apparatus for making peanut butter from deshelled pe anuts comprising:

a locked door;

means for unlocking door;

a scale for then receiving a cup including first means for identifying the presence ofa cup;

second means for then locking the door when closed;

third means for then identifying the closing and locking of the door; fourth means then responsive to said first. second and third means including a hopper and a peanut butter mill which mills peanut butter and extrudes it into the cup; and

means then responsive to a predetermined weight ofpeanut butter and cup to shut off said fourth means and its peanut butter mill and unlock the door.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 and including the step of responding to said two recording steps to open a discharge valve on the peanut milling unit.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 and including a discharge valve on the peanut butter mill which is opened during milling. 

1. A method for making peanut butter from deshelled peanuts comprising the steps of: opening a locked door, placing a cup on a scale, recording this placement, closing said door, locking said door, recording the closure of said door, responding to the recording steps to energize a peanut milling unit, directing the flow of resultant peanut butter into the cup, and responding to a predetermined weight of peanut butter to stop the milling step and unlock the door.
 2. Apparatus for making peanut butter from deshelled peanuts comprising: a locked door; means for unlocking door; a scale for then receiving a cup including first means for identifying the presence of a cup; second means for then locking the door when closed; third means for then identifying the closing and locking of the door; fourth means then responsive to said first, second and third means including a hopper and a peanut butter mill which mills peanut butter and extrudes it into the cup; and means then responsive to a predetermined weight of peanut butter and cup to shut off said fourth means and its peanut butter mill and unlock the door.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1 and including the step of responding to said two recording steps to open a discharge valve on the peanut milling unit.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 and including a discharge valve on the peanut butter mill which is opened during milling. 